Material biologikoen integrazioa teknologian: biosentsoreak

Abstract

The detection and monitoring of biological phenomena are of crucial relevance for the pharmaceutical industry, the environmental analysis field and the medical practice, among other uses. The small scale manufacturing of biotests suitable for those purposes is a focus of research in the last years. The use of miniaturized detection tests offers many advantages: the analysis time and expenditures are reduced, handling is simplified, sensibility is improved and the monitoring of the biological phenomena is easier. The information provided by the miniaturized biotests (also called biodetectors or biosensors) can be recorded systematically, and additional information that cannot be obtained by other biodetection instruments can be registered. This manuscript is a review about the conventional and innovative technologies used to manufacture small scale biosensors, with a focus on the classification according to the transduction mechanism and the main current applications. The possibility of miniaturizing those devices is a significant technological innovation as it allows pursuing the efficient automatization of those systems and the manufacturing of multiplexation biodetectors in future. Although many challenges have to be faced before their use becomes intensive, miniaturized biodetectors will be reportedly necessary for many applications, including the assistance in decision-making situations.